InTouch:
UNC Employee Forum News
Volume 5, Number 10 Holiday 2004
From the Chair: Looking Back at 2004
Changes Forum Delagates Want to See
Forum Computer Initiative Systems Changes
Blood Drive
December 16: Sign Up Today
Forum Election Results; Forum Approves $3500 Flat Increase Salary
Resolution
Graves Represents Staff on Health Insurance Committee
Delegate Roster
From the
Chair, Tommy Griffin... Changes
Forum Delagates Want to See With the traditional season of resolution-making looming ahead and more than
one-third of those serving on the Employee Forum being new to their task, InTouch
thought it was a good time to get a feel for where Delagates thought the Forum
should concentrate its efforts in the coming year.
Forum
Computer Initiative Systems Upgraded Last year the Forum worked out a program with Dell so that Dell is offering
UNC employees a desktop computer system for under $500. This deal is available
to everyone in North Carolina who is working for or has a child participating
in any Higher Educational facility in North Carolina or North Carolina high
school.
Blood
Drive December 16: Sign Up Today
We are also offering the option of collecting double red cells from qualifying
donors. Please visit our website for additional information: http://www.sph.unc.edu/blood/
See you at the Blood Drive! Forum
Election Results; Passage of Resolution Calling for $3500 Flat Pay Increase At its December meeting, the Employee Forum re-elected Tommy Griffin to an
unprecedented fourth term as Forum chair. Griffin pledged to do the best he
could to support the needs of employees throughout the state, particularly seeking
a substantial pay increase and revised health insurance benefits for University
employees. Ernie Patterson, a systems network manager in the Biology department,
was elected vice chair of the Forum, and Patti Prentice of the School of Medicine
was re-elected Forum secretary. Also, at its December meeting, the Forum approved a resolution requesting a
$3500 flat salary increase for State employees, or a 2.5% increase, whichever
is more. The Forum has asked the Chancellor and his Administration to advocate
this increase for fiscal year 2005-2006 in dealings with the Office of the President
and the North Carolilna State Legislature. Graves
Represents Staff on University Health Insurance Committee
Looking Back at 2004
Hello Friends. We are fast approaching the end of another year working together.
As I look back over the year 2004, it brings a lot of good memories to mind.
Consider the students who left here in May, well prepared to take on the world
because of the education they received here at UNC. Do you ever think about
how much hard work it takes to get each student across the stage on Kenan Football
field in May? Do you ever think about how much energy, time, and effort it takes
from all of us to make sure they get there? It takes all of us working together
and supporting each other to keep this the number one public University in the
nation.
Just think about what you do here every day on campus in your job and how important
your work is to the University and everyone in our state and nation. Without
folks who care about our University, it would be impossible to be successful
at our daily tasks, much less our overall goals of education, research, and
public service.
If the founding fathers of the University came back today, I am sure that they
would be amazed by the size of the University but not about how much we all
care about its success. Good, caring folks are who started our University and
who continue to support its needs and build for its future at every level. The
faces have changed over the years but not the hard work, dedication, or our
Tar Heel spirit.
I know all of us are looking forward to working together in the upcoming year.
We have a lot to do, but I know we can be successful, because employees have
been working well together here for over 200 years now. Think about our history
together and let's plan for our future. What we did yesterday is why we are
here today and why we will be here tomorrow.
With all this said, I want to thank everyone for all the years we have shared
together. Happy Holidays! Your friend, Tommy.
Responses indicate that there is a good deal of concern throughout the University
about low wages—especially for employees in the lowest-paid kinds of jobs.
The Living Wage issue was prominently featured as a delegate concern, as well
as the kinds of opportunities that lower-paid employees have to improve their
knowledge and skills and thus advance to better-paying positions.
Some Delagates pointed out that hiring and advancement issues have become important
at all levels of employment, given the budget constraints of the last several
years. In particular, concern was expressed that some employees are not being
given raises or promotions, chiefly because of the budget problems. Concern
was also expressed about the University continuing to hire non-UNC employees
to fill positions that current employees have been trying to work toward.
Other Delagates mentioned adequate, affordable health care coverage as a problem
requiring the Forum’s attention.
The Forum has worked out a new deal with Dell which now includes a Dell 3000
system and 265MB of memory as standard, both improvements over the previous
deal. It also includes a CD-ROM, 40GB hard drive, 17" monitor, and printer/scanner/copier
combination, along with Microsoft Office Basic and other software. The new system
still comes in at just under $500, including shipping and sales taxes.
You can check out the full details by going to the UNC Employee
Forum Computer Initiative link on the front page.
The Holiday Edition of the Carolina Blood Drive will be held on Thursday, December
16, 2004 from 7:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in Woollen Gym. With a goal of 275 units,
this drive will occur during a critical time of the year when blood collections
are typically low due to holiday travel.
Visit http://www.unc.givesblood.org
to make your appointment on-line or call 96-BLOOD (2-5663), Ext. 384 between
8am & 5pm daily between now and December 15th. Appointments are encouraged,
but walk-ins will also be accepted. Donors will be given a free American Red
Cross t-shirt.
Parking is available for donors along Stadium Drive and Ehringhaus Field House
Lot.
Individuals who would like to volunteer their time should contact Anne Webb,
School of Nursing, anne_webb@unc.edu
The Carolina Blood Drive Committee
962-1801
Katherine Caudell Graves, who served in 2004 as Vice Chair of the Employee Forum,
will represent staff on a system wide committee studying health insurance and
recommending changes to health benefits available to employees of the 16 campus
UNC system. Thanks, Katherine!
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Forum Home Page
Contact a Forum Delegate via our on-line roster
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